The T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa in June 2024 was a nail-biting affair, filled with tense moments and strategic plays. India emerged victorious, but not without a little bit of drama and some clever thinking on the field. Recently, Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, shared an anecdote about Rishabh Pant from that crucial match that has since gone viral.
During an appearance on 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,' Rohit Sharma recounted a moment when South Africa seemed to be gaining momentum in their chase. With South Africa needing just 26 runs from the last 24 balls and Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller well-set at the crease, the pressure was mounting. Rohit was in the midst of strategizing with Hardik Pandya, looking for a way to break the opposition's rhythm. That's when he noticed Rishabh Pant on the ground, with the team physio attending to him.
According to Rohit, in that moment, as he saw Pant on the ground, his initial thought was of concern, especially considering Pant's history. In December 2022, Pant had been involved in a serious car accident, and the road to recovery had been long and arduous. "The accident Rishabh had, I thought he was...", Rohit trailed off, implying his immediate fear was that Pant had suffered another injury.
However, it soon became clear that Pant's injury was not what it seemed. Rohit realized that Pant was, in fact, faking the injury to disrupt South Africa's momentum. The delay caused by the physio's attention gave the Indian team a chance to regroup and break the opposition's flow. Rohit acknowledged Pant's quick thinking, recognizing that it played a key role in India regaining control of the match. He humorously noted that Pant’s “injury ploy” was key in breaking South Africa’s momentum.
Pant himself has since confirmed Rohit's account. In a recent event with Star Sports, Pant admitted that he had indeed been acting. He explained that with South Africa scoring heavily in quick succession, he was looking for a way to shift the momentum back in India's favor. "I was asking the physio to take time," Pant said. "When Rohit bhai asked if my knee is fine I said, 'Bhaiya, mast acting kar raha tha' (I was acting all this while)". He said that he told the physio to take as much time as possible, feigning discomfort to run the clock down. When the physio inquired about his knee, Pant replied that he was "just testing".
Pant's confession has been met with amusement and appreciation from fans. It highlights his quick-thinking and willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win. It also underscores his resilience and positive attitude, especially considering the challenges he has overcome in recent years. Pant’s cheeky confession has sparked even more buzz among fans, showing that despite his journey from a serious car accident in December 2022 to lifting the T20 World Cup trophy in 2024, his sense of humor remains intact.
The incident serves as a reminder that cricket is not just a physical game but also a mental one. Mind games and strategic thinking can often make the difference between victory and defeat. In this instance, Rishabh Pant's clever act, recognized and appreciated by Rohit Sharma, played a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup triumph.
